Montreal showcases rejected Turcot plan

It was standing room only at a Thursday night meeting where Montreal officials pitched their vision for the decaying Turcot Interchange.

More than 200 people packed a community hall in St. Henri to hear more about the city's proposed plan to rebuild the crumbling highway exchange that slices through the neighbourhood.

Although Quebec's Liberal government already rejected Montreal's rebuilding proposal, the city is still holding on to its plan.

Elected officials say it better reflects citizens' concerns.

Montreal's plan proposes a smaller highway structure with a reserved public transit lane and park land in the vicinity, explained Vronique Fournier, a councillor in the south-west borough.

It's a much more appealing proposal than Quebec's vision, which would require expropriating 150 homes, something that "is not acceptable for the citizens," she said after the meeting.

"Quebec turned down Montreal's ideas, saying they are too expensive. But other factors such as public health costs should factor into the final project, argued Genevive Joncas, a member of community group "Mobilisation Turcot".

"People being stuck in traffic costs a lot to our community, and our society," Joncas said.

Many at the meeting were impressed, but pessimistic about the plan ever coming to life. "It's beautiful," said St. Henri resident Cam Baccanale. "But the city has no money. We all know Quebec has no money. Where [are] they gonna get the money to do this?"

Quebec's transport ministry has said it may incorporate some parts of Montreal's plan, but hasn't elaborated.

The critical structure connects Highway 20, Highway 15 and the Champlain Bridge.

Hundreds of thousands of vehicles use the exchange every day. But it is showing its age earlier this week transport officials shut down two lanes on an exit ramp for emergency repairs.